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Windows is not alone in being vulnerable
The most spirited discussions I read on our forums are the debates over the relative security of Linux/Mac OS compared to Windows.
Things really get heated when someone makes the claim that *nix (read Linux and Max OS) based operating systems never get viruses or vulnerabilities.
This just isn't true, as the steady trickle of updates to my Ubuntu installation proves. I'm not passing judgement on the severity of the possibility of the computer being hacked, but the vulnerabilities do exist and need to be countered.
The comments following this blog post ( Word up to Linux fan boys: Multiple Linux flaws show that Linux also has kernel issues ) reflect my experience.
One revealing remark was someone who said
"I have used Linux for over 4 years without even a thought to virus or security. All with no problems."
As I said the other day, that should really read "All with no apparent problems"
At one point the blog author ended up making this remark
"In fact, the strangest thing since I've joined this blog is I've found myself defending Microsoft more often then I'd like to due to people claiming things are Microsoft's fault when they aren't, or making ridiculous claims of Linux/Mac's capability of standing up to certain flaws."
It's a situation I've found myself in many times. There are many things about Microsoft products that annoy me, but I'm not prepared to stay silent when people make arguments based on hearsay or general FUD. There's no shame in admitting that there have been problems with your favourite operating system. To do otherwise just makes you look stupid.
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